If you want to immigrate to Canada after graduating, selecting the right study program can make a big difference.
In this article, we’ll list the study programs that hit on the key factors for immigrating to Canada:
- Eligible for open work permits after graduation (PGWPs).
- Lead to occupations given priority for permanent residence.
- Lead to occupations expected to face labour shortages.
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Here’s the list of study programs and corresponding occupations that give the best shot at permanent residence upon graduation, given what we know at the time of writing:
| Occupation (NOC* code) | Potential Program(s) of Study (CIP** code) | Express Entry Category |
|---|---|---|
| Cardiology technologists and electrophysiological diagnostic technologists (32123) | Cardiovascular technology/technologist (51.0901) | Healthcare and social services |
| Carpenters (72310) | Carpentry/carpenter (46.0201) | Trade |
| Dental hygienists and dental therapists (32111) | Dental hygiene/hygienist (51.0602) | Healthcare and social services |
| Dentists (31110) | Dentistry (51.0401) | Healthcare and social services |
| Dieticians and nutritionists (31121) | Dietetics/dietitian (RD) (51.3101) | Healthcare and social services |
| Early childhood educators and assistants (42202) | Early childhood education and teaching (13.1210) Education/teaching of individuals in early childhood special education programs (13.1015) | Education |
| General practitioners and family physicians (31102) | Medicine (51.1201) | Healthcare and social services |
| Heating, refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics (72402) | Heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration engineering technology/technician (15.0501) Heating, air conditioning, ventilation and refrigeration maintenance technology/technician (47.0201) | Trade |
| Heavy-duty equipment mechanics (72401) | Heavy equipment maintenance technology/technician (47.0302) | Trade |
| Licensed practical nurses (32101) | Licensed practical/vocational nurse training (LPN, LVN, RPN, Cert., Dipl., AAS) (51.3901) | Healthcare and social services |
| Medical laboratory assistants and related technical occupations (33101) | Clinical/medical laboratory assistant (51.0802) | Healthcare and social services |
| Medical laboratory technologists (32120) | Clinical/medical laboratory technician (51.1004) Clinical laboratory science/medical technology/technologist (51.1005) | Healthcare and social services |
| Medical radiation technologists (32121) | Medical radiation technologist/radiographer (51.0911) | Healthcare and social services |
| Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates (33102) | Health aides/attendants/orderlies, other (51.2699) | Healthcare and social services |
| Nurse practitioners (31302) | Primary health care nurse/nursing and family practice nurse/nursing (51.3805) Licensed practical/vocational nurse training (LPN, LVN, RPN, Cert., Dipl., AAS) (51.3901) | Healthcare and social services |
| Nursing co-ordinators and supervisors (31300) | Licensed practical/vocational nurse training (LPN, LVN, RPN, Cert., Dipl., AAS) (51.3901) Registered nursing, nursing administration, nursing research and clinical nursing, other (51.3899) | Healthcare and social services |
| Optometrists (31111) | Optometry (OD) (51.1701) | Healthcare and social services |
| Paramedical occupations (32102) | Emergency medical technology/technician (EMT paramedic) (51.0904) | Healthcare and social services |
| Physician assistants, midwives and allied health professionals (31303) | Physician assistant/associate (51.0912) Direct entry midwifery (LM, CPM) (51.3401) | Healthcare and social services |
| Psychologists (31200) | Clinical psychology (42.2801) Counselling psychology (42.2803) Health/medical psychology (42.2810) Family psychology (42.2811) | Healthcare and social services |
| Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses (31301) | Registered nursing/registered nurse (RN, ASN, BSN, BScN, MSN, MScN) (51.3801) Registered psychiatric nurse/nursing (51.3823) | Healthcare and social services |
| Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists (32103) | Respiratory therapy technician/assistant (51.0812) Respiratory care therapy/therapist (51.0908) | Healthcare and social services |
| Social and community service workers (42201) | Clinical/medical social work (51.1503) Community health services/liaison/counselling (51.1504) | Healthcare and social services |
| Social workers (41300) | Clinical/medical social work (51.1503) | Healthcare and social services |
| Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine (31100) | Medicine (MD) (51.1201) | Healthcare and social services |
| Specialists in surgery (31101) | Medicine (MD) (51.1201) | Healthcare and social services |
| Veterinarians (31103) | Veterinary medicine (DVM) (01.8001) | Healthcare and social services |
*The National Occupation Classification (NOC) is the Canadian federal government’s system of categorizing occupations based on the duties involved in each role. Each occupation is assigned a five digit code.
**The Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) is the federal government’s system for categorizing educational programs. Each educational program is assigned a six-digit code.
Below, we explain how we developed the criteria for this list.
Eligibility for an Open Work Permit
Each of the study programs listed above can qualify international student graduates for a post-graduation work permit (PGWP).
The PGWP is an open work permit that can be issued for up to three years.
As an open work permit, the PGWP is not tied to a specific employer, role, or occupation, but rather authorizes its holders to work for most employers in most industries in Canada.
Upon getting a PGWP, an international student graduate can gain Canadian work experience, qualifying them for immigration programs such as the Canadian Experience Class, and making them a more competitive candidate under Express Entry by granting them additional points under Canada’s Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS).
The length of PGWP issuance is dependent upon the study program from which the student has graduated.
If a PGWP holder applies for permanent residence through Express Entry, they can apply for a bridging open work permit (BOWP) to maintain their authorization to work in Canada if their PGWP expires before their permanent residence application has been processed.
For those who were issued their initial study permit after November 1, 2024: To be eligible for a PGWP, an international student must have graduated from a program exempt from field of study requirements (bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral program), or their program must meet the field of study requirements determined by the Canadian federal government.
All the fields of study we have listed above are eligible for PGWPs, as of the time of writing. The student must meet additional requirements, as must the degree program and the student’s designated learning institution (DLI).
See our article on how to ensure you meet the PGWP requirements.
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Occupation prioritized for permanent residence
All the occupations above can increase a foreign national’s chances of getting permanent residence.
Each occupation qualifies for category-based selection (CBS) through Express Entry, Canada’s flagship program for managing applications for permanent residence.
Foreign nationals cannot simply apply for permanent residence through Express Entry. Rather, they must first be selected as a top-ranking candidate and receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) from the federal government.
To gain permanent residence through Express Entry, a candidate must meet all program requirements, and enter the expression of interest (EOI) pool to compete with other candidates.
Once in the Express Entry pool, the system assigns them a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score out of 1,200.
Periodically, the government holds Express Entry draws, in which they issue ITAs to the highest-ranking candidates.
Qualifying for category-based selection (CBS) through an eligible occupation allows a candidate to receive an ITA with a much lower CRS score.
To qualify for CBS, a foreign national must have at least six months of continuous, full-time (or equivalent part-time) work experience in a single qualifying occupation within the past three years.
Occupation expected to face labour shortages
Each of the above occupations is expected to be in strong demand in Canada up until the year 2033, according to the federal government’s Canadian Occupational Projection System (COPS).
The COPS lists occupations which are expected to experience labour shortages from 2024 – 2033.
Of those which are expected to be in shortage, the COPS further identifies those occupations which are expected to be at strong risk of shortage.
All the occupations we’ve listed are expected to be at strong risk of shortage, according to the COPS.
In addition to providing an assurance of vocational and financial stability, demand for an occupation helps international student graduates break into the Canadian labour market.
This Canadian work experience increases their CRS points, and helps them qualify for the Canadian Experience Class as well as for category-based selection.
Next steps
Planning ahead can make a big difference in the chance of success for your Canadian PR journey.
If you do wish to immigrate to Canada after graduation, make sure that your program is PGWG-eligible, and if possible, select one that aligns with the occupations prioritized by the Canadian federal government.
Gaining at least a year of skilled foreign work experience before moving to Canada as a student can also give you an advantage over other candidates, through additional CRS points awarded under skill transferability factors.
You can use CanadaVisa+ to create various test profiles to assess your eligibility for all Express Entry streams, including category-based selection.
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